Vigna is agenus of plants in the legume family,Fabaceae, with apantropical distribution.[2] It includes some well-known cultivated species, including many types ofbeans. Some are former members of the genusPhaseolus. According toHortus Third,Vigna differs fromPhaseolus inbiochemistry andpollen structure, and in details of thestyle andstipules.
Vigna is also commonly confused with the genusDolichos, but the two differ instigma structure.[3]
Vigna are herbs or occasionallysubshrubs. The leaves arepinnate, divided into 3 leaflets. Theinflorescence is araceme of yellow, blue, or purple pea flowers. The fruit is a legume pod of varying shapes containing seeds.[4]
Familiar food species include theadzuki bean (V. angularis), theblack gram (V. mungo), thecowpea (V. unguiculata, including the variety known as the black-eyed pea), and themung bean (V. radiata). Each of these may be used as a whole bean, a bean paste, or asbean sprouts.
^Delgado-Salinas A, Thulin M, Pasquet R, Weeden N, Lavin M (2011). "Vigna (Leguminosae)sensu lato: the names and identities of the American segregate genera".Am J Bot.98 (10):1694–715.doi:10.3732/ajb.1100069.PMID21980163.
_(6728299493).jpg)
